DENTISTRY There are three dental schools in Texas, all public institutions. All three dentals schools have a four-year professional curriculum. Career options include: general dentistry; dental public health; endodontics; oral & maxillofacial pathology, radiology, or surgery; orthodontics and dentofacial orthopedics; pediatric dentistry; periodontics; and prosthodontics. For further information on dental programs in Texas contact: H. Philip Pierpont, DDS Associate Dean for Student & Alumni Affairs The U of Texas Dental Branch at Houston PO Box 20068 Houston TX 77225-0068 Tel: (713) 500-4151 Fax: (713) 500-4425 htlp:1 (""".d b.ut h.t IllC. cdii Barbara Miller, DDS, MS Executive Director of Recruitment & Admissions Baylor College of Dentistry Texas A&M Health Science Center PO Box 660677 Dallas TX 75266-0677 Tel: (214) 828-8231 Fax: (214) 874-4521 hit p:1i""w. bcd. tam h sc.cd u D. Denee Thomas, PhD Associate Dean for Student Affairs The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Anton io Dental School 7703 Floyd Curl Drive San Antonio TX 78229-7906 Tel: (210) 567-3752 Fax: (210) 567-4776 http://w,, \\".lithscsa.cd II Summary Information and Preprofessional Course Reauirements for the Dental Schools in Texas' Dental Schools b BCD UTDB UTSADS Size of Class Admitted 95 84 96 Minimum Number of Pre dental Years' 3 3 3 Semester Hours Limit on Junior College Work 60 60 None General or Inorganic Chemistrl 8 8 8 Organic Chemistrv d (Semester hours) 8 8 8 Biochemistry' 3 3 -- Phvsics d 8 8 8 BiologV d 14 14 14 English f 6 6 6 Additional preparation might include courses in Spanish, psychology, business management, computer literacy, art, physiology, anatomy, microbiology, histology and embryology. 02/08 CAREERS/DENTISTRY
a Note: Please be aware that these requirements can change. Check with your health professions advisor, the Texas Medical and Dental Schools Application Service website, or the director of admission of the professional school for any changes or additional requirements. b BCD = Baylor College of Dentistry (Texas A&M Health Science Center), Dallas UTDB = The University of Texas Dental Branch at Houston UTSADS = The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio Dental School c Baccalaureate degree highly desirable. d Courses as required for science majors-one year with laboratory. e Course as required for science majors (may not count toward 14 hours of biology). f Remedial or developmental courses or ""English as a second language" courses are not accepted. GUIDELINES FOR APPLYING TO TEXAS DENTAL SCHOOLS Dental school admission committees consider the application in its entirety and give importance to the following factors: I. Intellectual Capacity: consideration of undergraduate and graduate record; academic progression/regression; standardized test scores; academic awards and honors; research accomplishments; degree of difficulty of undergraduate academic program; preprofessional evaluation. 2. Interpersonal and Communication Skills: verbal communication skills (as demonstrated in the personal interview); written communication skills (as expressed in essay and in other areas of the application). 3. Motivation: knowledge of the profession of dentistry gained through observing in a dental practice; interest in life-long learning; success in overcoming adverse personal, family or life conditions. 4. Community Background and Activities: hometown or county of residence that has been designated as a health professions shortage area; race/ethnicity as it relates to service to underserved areas and/or underrepresented populations; commitment/desire to practice in an underserved region of the state; bilingual language ability; volunteer activities in the community. 5. College Activities: extracurricular involvement; leadership roles on the campus and in the community; volunteer work; employment history, especially as it occurred simultaneously with undergraduate academic preparation. 6. Integrity: any academic integrity violation; conduct of a crime; anything else in an applicant's background relating either positively or negatively to their standard of integrity. 7. Essential Functions: sensory and motor skills, cognitive abilities, communication skills, professional and behavioral skills. 02/08 CAREERSIDENTISTRY 2
ADDITIONAL NOTES State Residency By Texas state law, the enrollment of non-resident applicants to state funded medical and dental schools is limited to 10% of the entering class, so Texas residents are given preference in admissions. If there is a question about Texas residency, it will be necessary to complete a Residency Questionnaire. Please refer to www.utexas.edu/student/admissions/residency for further information or contact the Texas Medical & Dental Schools Application Service (TMDSAS). Academic Performance The GPA is a major factor in evaluating academic performance. Also considered are: (a) consistency of grades, (b) performance in required courses, (c) course load per semester, (d) number of colleges attended, (e) discrepancies between GPA and OAT scores, and (I) late attainment of academic success (i.e., trends in academic history). Official transcripts from all colleges or universities attended should be scnt to TMDSAS (and AADSAS if applying outside of Texas). Dental schools will not require original official transcripts to be sent until acceptance is extended. The GPA will be calculated from grades for course work at all colleges attended and will be calculated by year, cumulative and science courses. All grades will be used in the calculations, regardless of whether courses were repeated. In recent years, the mean GPA's of accepted studcnts have been around 3.55 (cumulative) and 3.50 (science). Dental Admission Test (OAT) The OAT is administered by computer on most any day of the year. Dental applicants should plan to take the test in the spring prior to applying to dental school. Applicants may obtain a registration booklet from their advisor or by contacting the Dental Admission Testing Program at 211 East Chicago Ave, 6 th Floor, Chicago, IL 60611-2678 [Phone: (800) 232-2162; website: www.ada.org]applicantsmayregisteron-lineat:\\.\\.\\..ada.tlrg/drofi.ad/tcsting/datjrcgistcring.asd or by completing a paper application in the OAT booklet. After the applicant submits the application and fee payment, he/she will be notified regarding registration. The applicant will be instructed to call an 800-number to arrange a day, time and place (at a designated Thompson Prometric Testing Center) to take the test. A 48-hour advance notice is required for scheduling the test. The student will receive unofficial scores immediately after completing the test; dental schools and advisors will receive the results in about three weeks. If the student wishes to retest, he/she must wait at least 90 days. Examinees who have attended 3 or more OAT exams must apply for special permission to take the test again. The OAT is a one-half day exam comprised of multiple-choice questions over the following areas: Survey of the Natural Sciences (biology, general chemistry, organic chemistry - 90 min), Perceptual Ability (angle discrimination, form development cubes, orthographic projections, apertures and paper folding - 60 min), Reading Comprehension (dental and basic sciences - 60 min), Quantitative Reasoning (algebra, statistics, geometry, trigonometry and word problems - 45 min). OAT scores range from 1 to 30; a standard score of 17 indicates an average performance, nationally. The academic and perceptual averages for the TMDSAS applicant pool has been approximately 18, 17 over the last few years. For students matriculated in the three Texas Dental Schools, the averages have been approximately 19.5, 18. 02108 CAREERSIDENTlSTRY 3
The Application Application to dental school is made in the summer of the year preceding entry. Early application is advised. It is recommended that applications be submitted as soon as possible after they become available. All three Texas dental schools participate in the Texas Medical and Dental Schools Application Service, 702 Colorado, Ste 6.400, Austin, TX 78701 [Phone: (512) 499-4785; email: TMDSAS@utsystem.edu). The application is completed on-line and can be accessed by entering the following website: W\\\\'.utsvstclI1.cuu!tmusas. The application period extends from May I to October 15 for the next entry year. A student may be notified as early as December 1 regarding hislher acceptance. Texas residents are required to use the application service. The website is also a valuable resource for current application and admission information. If a student is applying to an out-of-state dental school, he/she should check to see if the school participates in the Associated American Dental Schools Application Service (AADSAS). Students may access the application through the electronic application service at hllp://www.auca.org. The electronic application is available in mid May; an application cycle closes on March I of the following year. Notes: I. Obtain an unofficial transcript from each college or university attended. Use these transcripts when recording your course information on the application; this will help to ensure accuracy of information. Also, be sure to request that official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended be sent to the application service. 2. Print a copy of the completed application and review it for accuracy before submitting it to the application service. 3. Print the required signature page and complete any secondary applications that may be required. 4. Regarding the personal statement, take some time to carefully construct the statement. It should be succinct, accurate and easily read. Admission committees look to these comments for indications of your motivation, values, attitudes and goals regarding a career in dentistry. The statement gives you the opportunity to tell the committee members more about yourself. Remember, this is their first view of you as a candidate before they meet you in the interview. Finally, ask someone who is not familiar with your background to read the statement; it should be clear to himlher. 5. Periodically check on the status of your application. Make sure that the application service has received all of the required information. Health Professions Evaluation A written evaluation from the Health Professions Advisory Committee at the applicant's school is preferred. If an applicant's institution does not have a Committee, two individual faculty letters are acceptable. Baylor College of Dentistry also requires a separate letter from a practicing dentist. This letter may be included in the Health Professions Evaluation (from the applicant's school) or the dentist may send it directly to the Application Service. 02108CAREERSIDENTISTRY
Interview An interview is required prior to a student's acceptance into dental school. An applicant may be invited to interview with the Admissions Committee during the fall prior to matriculation. The Committee will assess noncognitive factors such as communication skills, extracurricular activities and motivation for a career in dentistry. Timeline for Application A. Spring of Junior Year 1. Take the OAT. 2. Complete information sheet, if required, for health professions advisory committee at your school. B. Summer between Junior and Senior Years I. Complete applications to dental schools. a. Texas dental schools through on-line application from TMOSAS. b. Out-of-state dental schools through AAOSAS. 2. Request your health professions advisor to mail an evaluation to the application services. 3. Ifnecessary, retake the OAT (candidates must wait 90 days before retaking the OAT). C. Fall of Senior Year I. Interview at dental schools. 01/08 CAREERSIDENTlSTRY 5
, Suggested Reading Following is a short list of reading materials that may be useful in preparing to enter dental school. This is a selected list; new books and other materials arc constantly being published. Ask your advisor about any recent volumes, which may be helpful. Dental School Catalogs. These may be available in your health professions advisor's office or you can often access a catalogue by visiting a dental school's web site. Official Guide to Dental Schools (revised annually). Published by and available from: American Dental Education Association, 1400 K Street, NW, Suite 1100, Washington, DC 20005; Tel: (202) 289-720 I; Fax: (202) 289-7204. Website: II I'll.adca.org. Opportunities for il1inority Students in United States Dental Schools. American Dental Education Association at above address, website, and phone number. Dental Admission Testing Program: Applications and Preparation Materials (revised annually). Available free of charge to dental school applicants. It consists of sample examinations used in the OAT and enables candidates to become familiar with the types of material included in the test. Available from: Dental Admission Testing Program, 211 East Chicago Ave, 6 th Floor, Chicago, IL 60611-2678; (800) 232-2162. American Dental Association website: \\wii'.ada.org. DAT Tutorial. A tutorial is available that will introduce the applicant to the mechanics of taking the computerized OAT. It does not include sample questions, but it does provide the basic steps involved in working through the test. The tutorial is available for free at www.'lda.<jrg (requires Microsoft windows). Applicants can also purchase the tutorial on CD by submitting a letter and a $20 money order to: OAT Tutorial, Dept of Testing Services, 211 East Chicago Ave, 6 th Floor, Chicago, IL 60611-2678. ASDA Handbook. Gelling into Dental School: ASDA 's Guide for Predental Students (S30). Contains information on the admissions process, financial aid, as well as other dental career information. Purchase on-line from the American Student Dental Association at:,\ow\\'.a~uanclorg/storcl. NAAHP Publications Health Professions Admission Guide: Strategy for Success. Write for.success: Preparing a Successful Professional School Application. NAAHP, PO Box 1518, Champaign, IL 61824-1518; Tel: (217) 355-0063; Fax (217) 355-1287; website: www.l1aahn.(1r!1.. Dental Admission Test (OAT) Computerized Sample Tests. Available from ScholarWare at IIww.scholarwarc.com and from the KSF Review at: \\liw.lhcksfrcvicw.com!dat/php. Commercial OAT Preparation Courses such as: Kaplan (www.kaplan.com) or Princeton Review (WI"".princctonrcvicw.com). Revised 02/07 by: Jack Pierce Austin College 02108 CAREERS/DENTISTRY 6